Category: Family

The issue of reproduction, especially human, can be very interesting for many people; however, for many more, this may be a confusing subject in which myths and other false beliefs are often spread.

Since we are on the subject of reproduction, we will focus on clarifying what the difference betweenz twins and twins; because since you are here you are very likely to have doubts about it.

Note: Contrary to what most people believe, the presence of two placentas or two amniotic sacs is no proof at all when determining whether they are monozygotic or dizygotic twins. This can only be determined accurately by a DNA test. If they turn out to be a girl and a child, it is clearly not monozygotic twins; since the DNA is very different.

Dizygotic Twins

The twins are nothing more than the dizygotic twins. The term twin is used in colloquial speech. This dizygotic twin (twins) means that the babies developed from two different eggs, fertilized by two different spermatozoa.

According to the geographical point , the incidence of twins’ births ranges from 6 to 20 per 1,000 births. The probability of twins depends on many factors, such as the country of birth.

In Japan , 6 out of 1,000 births correspond to twins; while in India, 15 or more per 1,000 are. This type of pregnancy is also more common in women over 35 years and in those who undergo fertility treatments.

Twins are the product of hyperovulation, that is, the mother releases more than one egg per cycle. Women who have had twins are four times more likely to get them back into their next pregnancy.

In addition, certain medications such as clomiphene increase the likelihood of fraternal twins by about 10%; since it tends to provoke hyperovulation.

On the other hand, the genetic code of the twins is usually as similar and different as it is among other siblings. Fraternal twins (as the twins are also told) may have different blood types; contrary to what happens in the case of identical twins (as they are also told to monozygotic).

It is important to clarify that neither the twins nor the twins have the same fingerprints.

Monozygotic Twins

Also known as identical twins or monozygotic twins. In the case of these, it is simply an egg fertilized by a spermatozoid; which is divided into two.

The likelihood of having identical twins is the same around the world: 3 out of every 1,000 births.

In the case of twins (in both cases they are called twins, only twins are used in colloquial speech), the genetic code and the sex of babies are usually the same; something that does not always happen in the previous case.

Also, the blood type is also the same. The same is true of appearance, although in some cases environmental factors may give rise to certain differences.

The survival rate of monozygotic twins is between 50% and 60%, due to the risk that the umbilical cord of one of the babies is entangled in the neck of the other and this deprives the affected brother of oxygen, causing cerebral palsy.

Twins have a higher risk of premature birth. In these cases, the duration of gestation is usually around 38 weeks; in contrast to single births, which statistically typically last 40 weeks.

Key Differences Between dizygotic twins and monozygotic twins

Twins are the product of a fertilized egg that divides into two, while the twins are the result of two eggs fertilized by two spermatozoa.

The genetic code, sex and blood type are the same in twins, but in twins it does not necessarily have to be this way.

Twins are called monozygotic twins and identical twins, while twins are called dizygotic twins and fraternal twins.

The probability of twin births depends on geographic location, however, the likelihood of twin births is equal globally.